It used to be that abuse was something that shamed the abused, never the abuser. Witnesses to it often turned away, made excuses and rationalized both the abuser's actions and their own.

The story of a Brockton mother arrested recently and charged with beating her 5-year-old son in a Shaw's supermarket illustrates how far we as a society have come when it comes to abuse — and how far we've yet to go.

While it's disturbing to consider that any adult might feel justified in hurting a child, to reportedly do so in such a public venue speaks to the complicity with which the public has traditionally been a part.

That pendulum is slowly swinging.

Almost a dozen people reportedly did intervene when they witnessed what they believed to be Marie Lyssa Mars, 42, beating her son. According to reports, some very sensibly called police, while others told Mars to stop.

"I said, 'Stop hitting, stop hitting your son. Stop beating him.' She looked at me and said 'I will beat him anytime I want to beat him,'" said one witness. "She started just pounding and pounding on him, just pounding and pounding."

Fortunately, no one intervened physically, but a group of shoppers followed the woman and her son to the parking lot and managed to get her license plate. She was stopped by Brockton police a short time later.

Mars pleaded not guilty to all charges in Brockton District Court on Monday, and was ordered held on $5,000 bail. Her son is now in the care of the Department of Children and Families.

Yet, given recent headlines, some might question if the boy is any better off there.

Recent revelations on the disappearance of another 5-year-old boy in DCF's care are the worst kind of abuse apathy. Jeremiah Oliver of Fitchburg hasn't been seen since Sept. 14 and police fear he's dead. In that case, several DCF workers have been fired for their failure to care for the boy in their charge, though primary responsibility lies with whoever did him harm.

DCF is under a barrage of other horrifying charges, including the news last week that it considers foster parents with criminal offenses — including drug trafficking, inducing sex from a minor and inducing prostitution. DCF case workers are allowed to waive the requirements that foster parents have clean records, which may be reasonable given the shortage of foster parents and the high prevalence of criminal records in minority communities.

But 95 children died while supposedly in the care of DCF between 2001 and 2010. That record does not inspire confidence.

We need more people who see something to say something. We commend those who stood up at the Brockton supermarket and spoke up for children and against abusers. It's our fervent hope that soon our state will too.